9 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in Kansas – (Online & Campus-Based)


Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA

Looking for a way to boost your salary as a Kansas-based LPN? Consider enrolling in one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Kansas. These programs typically take one to two years to complete, and many offer part-time enrollment options, which means you can continue working while pursuing your educational goals. Once you graduate, you’ll make an average salary of $71,990 a year—a 39 percent hike over the average LPN salary of $51,700. Demand for the services of registered nurses in the Sunflower State is high and anticipated to grow by more than 7 percent in the next 10 years. Begin your journey along a more lucrative career track by checking out the list below of the 9 best LPN-to-RN programs in Kansas.



WHAT ARE THE BEST LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN KANSAS (ONLINE AND CAMPUS-BASED)?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 9 best campus-based and online LPN-to-RN programs in Kansas.


1. Hutchinson Community College - Hutchinson


Program Details: If you’re looking for one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Kansas, you may need to look no further than Hutchinson Community College. The LPN to RN program is an online bridge pathway, that incorporates in-person labs and site-based clinical practicums. A new cohort is admitted yearly in the fall semester. The program takes three semesters to complete once all prerequisites are satisfied.

The program features a 69-credit curriculum. 41 credits come from prerequisites and prior learning credits. The remaining credits are earned from nursing core courses and clinicals. In this excellent LPN-to-RN program in Kansas, you will study Health Maintenance, Promotion, & Restoration, Complex Care of the Adult, and Leadership & Management Concepts in Nursing.

At Hutchinson Community College, you will integrate nursing theory with hands-on patient care at various clinical sites. Clinical practicums are completed concurrently with clinical courses and provide opportunities to care for diverse patient populations in real-world settings.


Why Choose This Program

• The job placement rates for graduates from the LPN-to-RN program at Hutchinson Community College are excellent, with most graduates reporting getting a job as Registered Nurses within six months of the program’s completion.
• At Hutchinson Community College, you will have the benefit of low student-to-teacher ratios, which makes individualized learning easier. Your dedicated faculty will develop plans to help you progress successfully through the program.


2. Cloud County Community College - Concordia


Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Kansas offered at Cloud County Community College is an advanced standing option for currently practicing licensed practical nurses. After completing the required prerequisites, LPNs enter the Bridge program in the fall semester and graduate the following spring, which means you can earn your degree in as few as two semesters! Coursework and laboratory simulations are completed on campus. Clinicals occur at various clinical affiliate sites, per clinical partnership agreements.

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree is a 67-credit program. The curriculum is broken down to include 21 general education/pre-nursing credits, 19 LPN transfer credits, and 27 nursing core credits. At Cloud County Community College, you will study in classes including Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Lifespan Nursing.

In addition to an excellent course line-up, you will participate in several simulations throughout the program. Simulations are considered on-campus clinical days and are designed to cover material you learned in class, preparing you for clinical practicums. Clinical faculty arrange practicums at local hospitals, long-term care facilities, physicians’ offices, and other healthcare facilities. All clinicals are supervised by program faculty and/or approved clinical preceptors.


Why Choose This Program

• Graduates of the LPN-to-RN program in Kansas at Cloud County Community College consistently score higher than the national average on the NCLEX-RN, which is a testament to the quality education the program provides.
• The college also reports excellent employment rates for graduates of the program. Many students find jobs regionally, and most report securing employment within three months of graduation.


3. Garden City Community College - Garden City


Program Details: Garden City Community College is home to another of our featured LPN-to-RN programs in Kansas. The college offers what is referred to as a 1+1 program, which is a ladder program awarding a practical nursing degree in the first year, followed by a second year of registered nursing courses. However, current LPNs may apply for advanced standing and begin the program in the second year, taking only two semesters to earn the associate degree in nursing. The program has a competitive admissions process and admits only 40 students per year. New cohorts are admitted in the fall semester annually.

According to Shellie Emahizer, Director of Nursing Education, classes and lab simulations are designed for in-person attendance on campus. The Associate in Applied Science degree requires that you earn a total of 64 credits. As a licensed practical nurse, you will be awarded 17 credits for prior learning in your practical nursing program upon verification of your LPN license and completed prerequisites.

The curriculum includes classes such as Advanced Maternal Health, Complex Health Alterations, and Advanced Mental Health. At Garden City Community College, you will have enhanced learning opportunities by engaging in laboratory simulations in the Erdene Corley Simulation Lab, designed to help you develop and hone essential skills in a controlled safe environment. Ms. Emahizer also states that the program incorporates a minimum of 360 clinical hours. To ensure you have adequate clinical learning opportunities, program faculty secure clinical sites and assign preceptors for you.


Why Choose This Program

• Garden City Community College believes all students should have the chance to earn a degree without the added worry of financial strain. All applicants who complete a scholarship application for the nursing program receive some type of scholarship assistance.
• Garden City Community College has a long history of educating nurses. The first nursing program at the college began in 1972, and the school has continued to exemplify excellence in nursing education!


4. Neosho County Community College - Chanute


Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Kansas offered at The Mary Grimes School of Nursing at Neosho County Community College is a great option for licensed practical nurses ready to become registered nurses. As an LPN, you must take the course Introduction to Associate Degree Nursing, a course offered in a hybrid format in the summer semester. After completing that course, you may transition to the second year of the associate degree program and begin Level II classes. Level II courses are also in a hybrid format.

The Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program is a 64-credit pathway. However, at Neosho County Community College, as a licensed practical nurse, you only need 25 credits to earn the Associate of Applied Science degree. You will study Professional Nursing Concepts, Patient-Centered Care, and Evidence-Based Practice. Clinical practicums in various healthcare settings allow you to apply nursing theory to real-world patient care scenarios. You will learn in various healthcare settings with the supervision of clinical faculty and approved preceptors.


Why Choose This Program

• At Neosho County Community College, you will learn from faculty with a broad range of experience and expertise who are dedicated to your academic and professional development.
• The college has multiple affiliate clinical partnerships, ensuring you will gain experience providing care for patients across the lifespan as you prepare to begin the next level of your career as a registered nurse.


5. Highland Community College - Atchison


Program Details: Highland Community College offers another of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Kansas. The program is an in-person, two-semester bridge pathway that includes one spring and one summer semester. The program, which is referred to as an LPN to RN Completion Program, awards an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.

The traditional AAS program is a 63-credit pathway. However, with prerequisite credits and LPN transfer credits, LPN Bridge students only need to complete 22 nursing course credits to satisfy graduation requirements. Some of the classes you will take include Nursing Skills, Nurse as a Leader, Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Advanced Mental Health Nursing. The program also includes practicum experiences where you have opportunities to provide care to diverse patient populations, including high risk maternal-child patients, medical-surgical patients, and mental health patients. All clinical practicum experiences are arranged by program faculty and supervised by either a faculty member or an approved preceptor.


Why Choose This Program

• At Highland Community College, students in the LPN-to-RN program benefit from low student-to-teacher ratios, making learning more individualized.
• With a history of excellent NCLEX-RN pass rates, you can feel confident that the program offered at Highland Community College will provide you with the theory and clinical knowledge and skills you need to help you succeed as a registered nurse.


6. Kansas City Kansas Community College - Kansas City


Program Details: Another great LPN-to-RN program in Kansas is offered at Kansas City Kansas Community College. The program’s goal is to provide excellence in nursing education, preparing you with the ability to demonstrate competence in nursing care. Classes for the LPN-to-RN pathway are admitted twice yearly, once in the fall and once in the spring. Once you complete all the required prerequisites, you can complete the LPN-to-RN program in just three semesters.

The LPN-to-RN degree is a 68-credit pathway, including prerequisite coursework. After completing the Transition to RN course, you will be awarded 22 Advanced Standing credits toward the program’s total credit requirement. In this program, you will complete classes, including Nursing Concepts for Clients with Multisystem and Emergent Health Problems, Nursing Concepts for Clients with Complex Health Problems, and Nursing Management of Care Concepts.

Coursework and labs are completed on campus. Clinicals are held in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, community health centers, extended care facilities, and physicians’ offices. You can expect to spend between 15 and 20 hours each week in classes and clinicals.


Why Choose This Program

• At Kansas City Kansas Community College, the LPN-to-RN program incorporates collaborative efforts between nursing students and members of other healthcare disciplines. You will have opportunities to practice interdisciplinary collaboration, which is essential for providing quality patient care, from the start of your program in the classroom and in clinicals.
• Graduates of the LPN-to-RN program have excellent job placement ratings after completing the program. Additionally, the school has career readiness advisors who help facilitate opportunities for networking with healthcare employers for students who are interested in their service.


7. Butler Community College - El Dorado


Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Kansas at Butler Community College is an excellent option for transitioning your career from being a licensed practical nurse to becoming a registered nurse. Admission to the transition courses occurs in the fall and spring semesters. Following completion of the required transition courses, you will enter the third semester of the associate degree program in the following semester. The program features a hybrid learning format that blends online content with in-person classroom instruction.

The traditional Associate in Applied Science degree program takes five semesters to complete. However, as a licensed practical nurse entering the third semester, you can complete the program in just three semesters.

The Concept-Based curriculum at Butler Community College is designed to identify important concepts relevant to your transition from an LPN to an RN. You will learn to apply critical thinking and clinical judgment in evidence-based practices. By entering the program in the third semester, you will complete 43 credits. The curriculum includes clinical courses, each with a corresponding clinical practicum.


Why Choose This Program

• As a student in the LPN-to-RN program at Butler Community College, you will have access to the school’s Clinical Learning Center. The center was developed with simulated clinical environments to provide you with immersive experiences as you prepare for clinicals and the transition of your career from being an LPN to becoming an RN.
• Butler Community College has articulation agreements with several colleges, including Baker University, Emporia State University, and Grand Canyon University, where graduates of the LPN-to-RN program can continue their education by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing.


8. Johnson County Community College - Overland Park


Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Kansas at Johnson County Community College is another of the best LPN transition programs in Kansas. The program begins in the summer semester annually and follows a consecutive three-semester pathway, with students graduating in the spring.

The program requires LPNs to complete between 56 and 59 credits, including 21-24 prerequisite credits. After completing the required prerequisite courses, you may enter the program with advanced standing. Some of the classes included in the program are Health Assessment & Skills for Nursing Practice, Human Pathophysiology, and Foundational Concepts of Nursing.

In addition to small classes that offer campus-based nursing theory, you will practice hands-on skills at the school's Zamierowski Family Center for Healthcare Simulation. The center is a high-fidelity laboratory designed to offer realistic learning opportunities using simulation. You will also have clinical practicums in a variety of settings, including facilities where you will provide medical-surgical, pediatric, surgery, maternal-child, and family practice nursing care.


Why Choose This Program

• Johnson County Community College boasts a dynamic nursing faculty team with several years of clinical and educational experience in nursing. Their knowledge and expertise will help you prepare to transition to your new role as a registered nurse!
• Graduates of the Johnson County Community College nursing program consistently exceed both state and national averages on the NCLEX-RN.


9. Labette Community College - Parsons


Program Details: The LPN-to-RN program in Kansas at Labette Community College is an exceptional option for licensed practical nurses seeking career mobility opportunities. The program, which takes three semesters to complete, consists of campus-based coursework, laboratory skills, simulations, and clinical practicums held in diverse healthcare settings.

Upon completion of the LPN-to-RN program, you will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree. The degree is a 66-credit pathway. However, 32 of those credits come from prerequisite courses, general electives, and articulating LPN credits. Therefore, after completing prerequisite and general elective requirements and receiving credits for your LPN program, you will need 38 concentration requirements to complete the degree. The curriculum includes classes such as Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pathophysiology, Family Nursing, and Microbiology. The college also has state-of-the-art simulation labs where you can practice hands-on skills relevant to patient care as you prepare for clinical and post-graduation practice.


Why Choose This Program

• Labette Community College has been educating nursing students since 1968. In that time, more than 1,500 nurses graduated from the nursing program and became registered nurses. This excellent track record of nursing education success is a strong indication that you will receive the guidance you need to succeed in the program and become an RN.
• According to the college’s Student Achievement Outcome Data Report, the LPN-to-RN program has excellent completion rates and graduates score above state and national levels on the NCLEX-RN.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED


1. Starting LPN VS. RN Salary In Kansas: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


RN Average Starting
Annual Salary
LPN Average Starting
Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
$58,760$42,200+$16,560+39.24%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


2. Experience-Wise LPN VS. RN Salary In Kansas: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


Level of ExperienceRNLPNDifference
Number%
Entry-Level$58,760$42,200+$16,560+39.24%
1-4 Years of Experience$64,210$48,820+$15,390+31.52%
5-9 Years of Experience$75,780$55,540+$20,240+36.44%
10-19 Years of Experience$81,860$60,850+$21,010+34.53%
20 Years or More Experience$94,900$66,860+$28,040+41.94%
Average Salary$76,240$55,610+$20,630+37.10%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


3. Metro Wise LPN VS. RN Salary In Kansas: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


MetroRN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
Lawrence$74,260$54,650+$19,610+35.88%
Manhattan$73,440$54,420+$19,020+34.95%
Topeka$78,150$56,040+$22,110+39.45%
Wichita$72,890$53,410+$19,480+36.47%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


4. LPN VS. RN Job Outlook In Kansas: Is The Job Outlook For RN Better Than LPN?


OccupationEmploymentNew Employment
Growth (2020-2030)
20202030Number%
RN30,92033,190+2,270+7.34%
LPN6,9407,320+380+5.48%
Difference+23,980+25,870+1,890+1.87%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)


5. LPN VS. RN Job Openings In Kansas: Are There More Job Openings For RN Compared To LPN?


OccupationNewReplacementAnnual Job Openings
(New + Replacement)
RN2271,6631,890
LPN38542580
Difference+189+1,121+1,310
(Source: Careeronestop.org)


6. Average LPN-to-RN Salary In Kansas VS. Average LPN-to-RN Salary In The Nation: Who Earns More?


Average Kansas
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Average National
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
$76,240$94,480-$18,240-19.31%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.



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